I have met online three others in this forum, who, like me have no accepted risk factors for presenting with cancer of the oral cavity, 3 of us tongue, one buccal. All four of us suspect chronic irritation, and, while we cannot prove the connection, each of us has our specific recollections of habits, etc, that we believe set up an irritation in the area affected.
My husband is a dentist who used to believe chronic irritation was not a bona fide cause for oral cancer. He now personally thinks differently.
Yes, I wish there was scientific research on this topic. When I participated in a nutrition survey for oral cancer patients recently, I thought to myself then how interesting and possibly helpful it would be if someone could survey patients to see if irritation played any role in their oral health.
Anne
SCC tongue 9/2010, excised w/clear margins:8 X 4 mm, 1 mm deep Neck Met, 10/2010, 1 cm lymph node; 12/21/'10: Neck Diss 30 nodes, 29 clear, micro ECE node, part tongue gloss, no residual scc IMRT & 6 cisplatin 1/20/11-2/28/11 at MDA GIST tumor sarcoma, removed 9/2011, no chemo needed Clear on both counts as of Fall, 2021
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